Soren Kierkegaard sees something different yet in this series of meditations (Watch for the Light). He notes that in the Christmas story, wise men from the East (non-Jews) cross mountains and rivers to meet the Messiah while learned Jews who knew of the Messiah's coming barely show an interest.
Although the scribes could explain where the Messiah should be born, they remained quite unperturbed in Jerusalem. They did not accompany the Wise Men to seek him. Similarly we may know the whole of Christianity, yet make no movement. The power that moved the heaven and earth leaves us completely unmoved.
...Who had more truth? The three kings who followed a rumor, or the scribes who remained sitting with all their knowledge?
Imagine the surprise and confusion of the wise men to learn of the disinterest of the Jews. Soren closes by saying...
This is as bad as if a person knows all about Christ and his teachings, and his own life expresses the opposite. We are tempted to suppose that such a person wishes to fool us, unless we admit that he is only fooling himself.
It's worth a moment of thought to ask yourself if you might be one of these people.
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